Eyeleting-machine.



MITH.

A R. B. S nm'rmd ummm. APPLIOATIO PILBU AUG. 27, 1906.

Patented-July 1909.6

'. lum.

lrli, a @M #inw .N r

R. B. SMITH.

EYBLBTINQ MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 190B.

Patented July 6, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.Y ROBERT B. SMITL,A OF' QUINGY, MASACHUSETTEEETNOR TO UNITED SHOE*VIACHIIlE'ltY GOMPANYfOF PATERS-ON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPGRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

j EYnLnrmG-MACI-nnn.

No. 926,903. l Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July B, 1909.

Application filed August 27, 1906. Serial No. 332,158.

To all whom it may concern: types oi' Worlecontroiling ineens heretofore Be it known that I, lionnrr B. SMITH, e employed comprise erich e. stetionery guiden citizen vof the United States, residing 'et plete, and e cir of clamping surfaoesnfhich Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and Conicomet to ho'lJd theivorlragoinst the guidenlonwealth of Massachusetts, heve invented pl ete, seid surfaces being commonly supplied @o certain Im roveinents in Eyeleting Meby two substantially parallel fingers dischinos, of W lich the following description, in posed on opposite sides of the eyelet-setti'ngv cozmection with the ecrxinipenying drewdie of the inechine, and extending from scid ings, is e specification, like reference chorac- `die in o reverse direction to that in which the lo ters on the drawing-s indicatingT like pertsin stock is ied. Thus the clznnpinpl surfaces 6.5 the several figures. which soton the Work ere spaced. eport e This invention relates to eyeleting ineconsideroble distance, and that cree of' the chinos, end pertains more perticulorly to Work which inter'vencs between tliein is not those elements which guide the Work while it subjected to innnediete control except insoi is being' fed, and which contribute to meint-ein for es it is controlled manually by the oper* 70 the work in proper position When it is et rest. otor. lilith this arrangement the Workrlibeinvention is particularly applicable to controlling ineens are ineffective to keep the work-controlling devices such :is ere deworl; smooth end to insure its introduction scribed in e (io-pending up licetion for Let in proper condition to the eyelet-setting opi 2o ters Peteritof the United States, Scritti No. eration. Thesedciiciencies ore remedied by 7.5 329,722, filed August 8, 190e; :nid the i'nthe improvements described in the aforevention is intended primarily' to supplj.v inimentioned. Gopendingr epplicetion which proveniente upon the subject metter ol seid corr-prise Worlr-mintrollingr ineens arranged co-pendingapplicntion. Nothinghereinconlor emerging the Work. along e continuous line tained is to be construed, however', es liznitwhich extends ocr-oss the path traversed by 80, ing this invention to use in Vconnection with the ivo-rl( es it is i'ed toward en eyelet-setting the devices shown end described in seid npposition.I By this 4errmreJ-cinent the Work is plicstion, or in connection with devices oi smoothedontbythe work-controlling means,

the sanne type. und held smooth while :Ln eyele-t is set.

`Commonly the Work-controlling ineens ol' i llvidontlj', it is greatly to be preferred 85 en eyeletingr machine comprises cooperating` both that the work-controlling Ineens consurfaccs which ect 'upon opposite feces oi the stontlv exert en entire iniluence on the Work, Work. In soine types of worlvcontrolling ond that this influence be exerted through ineens heretofore used one ol the copernt engagement along e continuous line extending surfaces is sup )lied by e stationary guideing across the path traversed by the Work es 90 plete, the other boing cnrri'ed on on inter it is ted toward en eyele't-setting position. inittently actingr clamping member which These preferences mcy be supplied advenclenips the work egcinst `the guide-plete tegcously by the in'iproreinents described in when the former is et rest end whichretrrmts the eierenientioned (1o-pending application 4o from its olemjiing position to permit the end said iniprm'einents ere capable of suc- 95 work to be fed. This intermittent clmnpinp; cessful operation under nearly ell of the vm fiction is disedventegeous, since it requires rying conditions of eyeleting. l In some inthlit the work be controlled manually by the stences, however, the Work may carry e operator Whenever-the chnnping member reprojection of' some sort (e lacing hook' or treats from engagement witi the work, ond stud, for example); end. ifvit be desired to 100 j also for other reasons unnecessary to be disset mi cyolet neer scid irojection it mcy becussed herein. The improvements decorne necessary that the work-controlling scribed inscid cri-pending upplicntion rc;n` ineens engage the workin the vicinity of edy the defects of the intermittent action ol' seid projection in such n manner that, when 5c the Worliecontrollingr nieens just referred to, the work has recelied its intended `osition, 105 -byproviding, inan eyeleting machine, Worlo the projection might lio between t copcontrolling Ineens constantly acting' upon eretingicces ofthe work-controllingr means the work to hold i in correct position when or within the eren. in which they are designed it is et rest `find toi guide it when in motion. ifto conto-ct with the Work. vln such e cese Viewedy from another standpoint, certain i the devices shown in the drawings of seid 110 co-pending application would lprevent the feeding of the Work to the desired position because the projection would strike against the work-controlling means and could not practicably be positioned within their intended area of contact; and in another type of WOrk-controllingv means hitherto employed, Whilethe Work might be fed to the desired position, the coperating surfaces of lo the work-controlling means would be pregested is well exemplified in the operation of setting eyelets in a shoe fly which has been provided previously with blind hooks. In

blind hook work lacing hooks are set lin a shoe y by projecting their barrels, or other .gmfastening means, through each ily of the shoe and usually through a reinforcement en the inside of the ily, and clinching said barrels against the inner face of said reinforcement. Thereupon a front facing (usually consisting of a narrow strip of soft leather) is stitched to the edge of the fly from one end to the other thereof, so as to cover the clenched ends of the hook barrels and afford a reinforced backing for the eyelets. The upper thus prepared is ready for the eyeleting operation. Obviously the lacing passage of the evelet should exten'd entirely through the fly and' the facing, and hence eyelets are set subsequently to the hook setting operation and after the facing has been stitched in'place. It is a freq uent custom to commence setting eyelets at the lowermost end of a shoe fly and to set them in a row ending in proximity to the'lower- 40 most lacing hook. In order that the last eyelet' shall be properly positioned as close to the lowermost hook as desired, it may be necessary for the Work-controlling means to engage between eoperating surfaces that portion of the Work in Which the lowermost ook is located., It might be possible to set an eyelet as close as desired to a projection on the Work, by employing Work-controlling means comprisingfa guide-plate and a pair of co-acting fingers (already referred to),

the space intervening between the -lingers affording an uninterrupted path through -Which the projection might be moved toward the eyelet-setting die; but the attainmentof this'advantageY in this manner would involve a permanent sacrifice of continuity vof engagement, between work-controlling meal and Work, along a line extending across the path traversed by the work as 1t 1s v 30 fed toward the die.

nn important feature ol' this invention consists 1n work-controllmg means ulrich y,constantly engage the work, said workcoiitrolling means being constructed and arranged for permitting a projection on the 'Work to be 'positioned as near as desired to the eyelet-set-ting point.

Another feature of the invention consists in Work-controlling means Whichknormally engage the work along a continuous line extending across the path traversed b v the work as it approaches an eycleting position, and provision for interrupting the continuity of said engagement. In this manner the iuvention provides work-controlling means which have all the desirable attributes, Without the permanent disadvantages, of the arrangement of guide-plate and co-act-ing iingers already discussed.

The invention also comprises Work-controlling means having eoperating surfacesA arranged to press thework between them; said work-controlling means being arranged 'for distributing pressure substantially uniformly throughout the contact between said surfaces and the Work. In work-controlling means heretofore used, abnormal thicknesses of leather', a thick line of stitching or the like, upon entering into engagement with the Work-controlling means, Ahas been likely to cause the pressure of said means to be distributed unequally upon the work, thereby giving rise to difficulties hereinafter explained. This feature of @he invention obviates these difficulties. m

Other features of the invention will be described herein and will be defined in the claims.

One embodiment of this invention may be used to advantage on a machine arranged to set two eyelets simultaneously in the opposite flies of a shoe. shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 683,488, dated October 1, 1901, and a similar machine Vhaving improvements over the machine of said patent is shown in a co-'pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 153,822Miilcd April 22, 1903. The present invention will be described herein, for purposes of illustration, as applicable to a machine of this type, and as embodied in work-controlling means somewhat similar to those shown in the drawings ol' the aforementioned co-pcnding application Serial No. 329,722. construed as limiting this invention to usr in connection with the nutchines ofV said patent, or to nuichinesiof that general type, since the invention may". he applied to man v sorts of cyeleting machines and to machines for setting other fasteners than eyelets.

.ln the accompanying drawings, l1`igurc 1 is a top View of Work-controlling nuans einhodying this invention, showing them in their association with an anvil-plate; Fig. .2 is a side elevation of the work-contn)lling means shown in Fig. l, illustrating the manner of introducing the two flies of a shoe, Fig. 3 is a side View of a portion of the Nothing herein contained is'to hc' Such a machine is lli ` workscontrolling means showing the relative said application, Serial No. 153,822,

omnes positions 4ori' certain parts when a piece of Work has been introduced; Fig. 4 is'a top View, similar' to Fig. 1, showing,7 therclation between the Work-controlling means and the anvil-plate when the latter is in position for Setting an eyelct: Fir'. 5 is a view similar vto Fig. 4 showing;r the relative positions of Workfcontrolling means and anvil-plate when the latter has heen shifted to feed the work;

..6 is a section along the line6- of Fig. 4, showing a piece of work carrying' .a 4lieing hook; Fig'. 7 is a section similar Vto that .of Fig. 6 showingr .a piece of Work carrying a lacing hook in another position; 8 is a section along the line 8-8 ci Fig 1. Figs. 2 and 3 are full size. Figs. 1., 4, and 5 .are approximately three-fourths size. 'Figs l6, 7 and 8 are drawn to the scale of two to one.

Fig. l shows enough of an eyeleting macihinef 'the type described specifically in to ex emplify the use of work-controllingr means embodying' :this invention. An anvil-plate a is pivotally supported on a stud which is substantially'like arranged to be moved laterally forward and backward to give the anvil-plate the positions ,shown in Figs. l and 4. vThe anvil- (plate e is arranged to he rocked on the stud for the purpose of feeding the work. Duru ing the operation of the machine of said application, Serial'No. 153,822, an anvil-plate the plate a is moved to three successive positions, and forithe purposes of the following detailed description the .anvil-.plate c may be understood to be vmoved in the same manner and ,to the saine end. The three positions ot' the anvil-plate 'position shown in Fig. 5. position (Fig. 1) is the initial position of the a (named in :the sequence in which they are assumed) are the' holeunching position shown in Fig. l; the eye t-setting position shown .in Fig. 4; and the extreme feedingr The punchingy anvil-plete in the cycle of `operations oi the :machine The ath of movement of the anvil-plate 1s re )resented diagrammaticallyin 5 by the inesbl), 11, and 12.

, l ting-'die d which .are duplicated on the under Side of the 'anvil-plate `as viewed in Figs. 1

-4vanld .5. In the manner described in said applicat'lpn, Serial No.. 153,822, o positely aliuemen 'positely disposed presserl`eet`B, B.

The an#L v vil-'plate c carries s; puneh-anv1l c and 'a setlate a is' sufficiently elucinormally stationxn'y guidefplate A and opl The guide-plate is mounted on a bracket 1.3 pro jecting from .the frame 14 Aof the machine. As shown in Fig'. l the guide-plate A is ar ranged to be reciprocatcd endwise on the bracket 13 tor spacing eyelets at `diii'erent distances 4from the edge oi' the work. and to this end the guide-plate is slidahle on the bracket 13 and has a rigid rack 15 engaging with a toothed sector 16 which may consti tute an instruinr-mtality ci'v an automatic spacingr mecliianism such as Ais shown in :said application,.Serial No. 153,822. In introducing' work to the work-controlling` means, the two flies oi a shoe are preferably arranged by the operator so as to he sul stantially parallel with their edges registering, and are then inserted between the guide- 4plate A and the respective .presscrsfect B, B

(see flies c, e F 2). When in complete engagement with the workecon-trollingl vmeans each ily e occupies a position similar to that shown in F ig. 3, with its edge abutting; against an edgefage t'.

Then the two ilies e, e are in position, one oi them will lie ahov'e and the other beneath the anvil-plate a which will he in the position shown in Fig. 1. The first step in the operation oilz the machine is per-formed by the punches which are pressed through the Work against the oppositely `disposed punchanvils c,- and are then retreated, leavin, r a hole for an eyelet in each ly.l Thereupon the anvil-plate is moved in the direction of the line 10 (Fig. 5) to the position shown in Fig. ,4, wherein each setting lie d registers with a hole in the Werl: just made hy a punch. An eyelet is introduced into each of seid holes and the o po'sitely disposed pressure-dies (not shown are caused to press the eyelets so as to upset their barrels upon the dies d, d. While the )ressure-dies and the upsetting dies d, d sti engage the newly set eyelets be tween the1n,'(the ,pressure of said engage nient having' been `-slight-ly reduced) the anvil-plate and the ',pressure-dies are moved. simultaneously in ,the direction of theline 1l until the anvil-plate reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby feeding the work for the distance desired to intervene between' two eyelets. When the anvil -plate has reached the position shown in Fig. 5 the pressure-dies are retreated to release the Work and the anvil-plate is thereupon returned (along the line 12) 'to its initial position shown in Fig'. 1 wherein the punch-an- Vil c registers `with that port-ionof the work in which it is desired to unch a hole for the next eyelet. This compltes one cycle ol the operation of the machine insofar as it is necessary to he considered in the present dis cussion. g

The presser-feet B, B are supported by leaf-springsf, secured to opposite sides of a -Worl a thick line ot' stitching, or thelike,

block 17. Said block is recessed to fit over 1 the shank of the guide-plate A and is held in position thereon by a set-screw 1S which may project through an elongated slot in the block for purposes of adjustment. The front faces of the block 17 supply the edge-gages t against which the edges of the work move and are positioned. Each presser-foot carries a centrally located pivot f/ which is conveniently supplied by the ond of a hooked plate la. This pivot is seated upon the outer end ofthe appropriate springf which is given a proper shape to suit this purpose. .Each spring f tends to press the presser-foot to which 1t is attached toward the guide-plate A and to hold it thereagainst firmly but with a yielding pressure, and to this end the outer extremity of the spring f is preferably confined between the pivot y and the body por tion of the presser-'foot' (see Fig. 2). Thepurpose of this pivotal support for each presser-foot is to enable the foot to conform to inequalities in thickness of the work. and to distribute the pressure of the spring f uniformly to all parts of the work with which the foot contacts. The 1nehavior of the .presser-feet when moved on their pivots is illustrated in Fig. 2 whore pieces of work are being introduced beneath the presser-feet. It is evident that thc pressure exerted on the edge of the Work by one end of a presser-foot in Fig. 2 is substantially the same as the pressure exerted by the other end of the pressenfoot; and the same would be truc ifa piece of work of varying thickness were 1n engagement with the presser-foot. Fig. 3 l shows a piece of work of uniform thickness in engagement with tho presscr-foot which is, under these conditions, substantialIy-parallcl to the guide--j'ilato lf the thickness oi" one part or another of the work in this instance were ali-'normal the presser-foot would be rocked somewhat out of parallel, but would nevertheless translnit pressure uniformly to the work. lllach springf is maintained in` proper alinement by guide-pins il) and 2() carried"respectively b the b ook i7 j and the appropriate presser-foot. The uuiformity of the pressure on the work exerted lby each presser-foot is of importance since it enables the Work-controlling means to exert theI same influence on all parts of the work engaged thereby. In work-controlling means heretofore used, an abnormal thickness of was likely to increase the pressure in its own vicinity and to diminish the pressure at other parts of the work, so that some portions of the Work would be engaged more securely than others, thereby permitting the stock to be easily wrinkled and lowering the efficiency of the work-controlling means. It should be noted that the work-controlling means shown in the drawings are normally stationary, the

pressenfeet being moved only under unusual conditions or when Work is being introduced.

In order to permit a projection on the work, such as a lacing hook, to be moved near to the setting point, each presser-foot is provided with a laterally-extending recess C, which for a certain distance supplies an uninn terrupted path along which the projection may be moved toward the setting point. This may be explained conveniently in connection with Figs. 6 and 7, wherein -a lacing hook D is shown positioned within the recess C. if this recess' C were not provided the hook D, moving in the direction of .feed of the work (see arrow 21), could approach no nearer to the setting point (above the die d) than the side 22 of the presser-foot, since the hook would abut against said side during the feed. The provision of said recess, however, permits a projection on the work tobe moved from one side toward theother of the workcontrollingl means, and permits a projection on the work to bc positioned between one side andthe other of the work-controlling means, and permits a projection on the work to be moved from the rear side oi the workcontrolling means toward the setting point, the expression rear side being used to designate that side of the work-controlling means whichis iirst reached by the work in' its feeding movement.

rlhe forward end of cach recess C may be provided with a spring-gate E. lhis gate is secured to the presser-foot preferably bya pivot' and is niaiiitained normally closed as shown in Fig. by means of a sjn'ingaictuated plunger l." carried in a socket in the presserfoot. 'l`hc gato is preferably arranged to open outwardly only. li nia-y be open-od thus, against the action of the spring-pressed plunger, by a projection on the work as cxeniplilied by a lacing hook D in Fig. 7. When the gate 'E is in its normal vertical position the edge of the gate is substantialy flush with the acting surface of the presser-foot; and consequently the presser-loot is normally arr.-'\.nged to engage the work along a continuous line extending across the iath traversed by the work as it is fed toward the setting-point, and the gate constitutes an illustration of provision for interrupting the continuity of said engagement to permit a projection on the work to be positioned as near as desired to the setting-point. The opposite faces of the guide-pl`ate A are provided with projecting ribs j (similar to those shown in the aforementioned (zo-pending application) which coperate with the iresser-fect B, B to maintain the edges of tlie work in contact with the edge-gages i, i.

It is desirable, for some classes of work, to pro vide a guide-plate with a work-rest against which the operator may hold the work in proper position when it is desired to set an lli) eyeletso near to the rear end of the work that the features may be employed severally in t e workmentrolling means are not permit ted effective engagement with the work. AIn this connection the present drawings show a Worlerest Gr which projects laterally from the outerend ofthe guide-plate A. Vr'orlhrcsts somewhat similar to that shown in the drawings have been provided heretofore, and it has been experienced that some loose portion oi' e. shoe, such as the tongue, a part of the lining or the like, has been likely Ato drop down between the anvil-plate and the Werl:- rest and to be pinched therebetween during the movement of the anvil-plate returning` to its initial position after the Work has been fed. This impedes the i'eed of the work, and in many instances causes a hole to be punched and an eyelet set at a wrong place on the work. In order to avoid this diiliculty and to prevent any portion of the 4work from be ine,r pinched by the anvil-plate, this invention contemplates an arrangement of the anvilplate and rest whereby the acting surfaces of oth are rendered substantially continuous when one is being moved toward the other, thereby preventing the occurrence o1' a space between them into which a part of the work could fall and be pinched. ln this connection the present drawings show a recess H (see Figs. 4. and 8) into which the lower end of the anvil-plate projects during a part of its travel in the direction of the line i2 (see Fig. 5). Each acting; surface of' the anvil-platf:, with this arrangelnent, becomes substantially arcontinuation of the adjacent face of the work-rest at a time when it is desired that no space intervene between'adjacent portions oi' the anvil-plate and work-rest.

)ilany changes might be made in. the devices shown in the drawings. thc werlecontrolling means may be used in connection with anvil-plates or the like which are entirely dissimilar, both as to construction and mode of operation, to the anvil plate shown in the drawings. lft is by no means necessary that the worlecontmlling means comprise coi'iperating surfaces one oi' which is stationary, as by being supplied upon a stationary guide-platelt is preferred that the presserfeet be supported yieldingly but this is not essential. The prov vision of thc recess is not necessarily sup )lied by a recess in an integri-al block but may be supplied between two or more separate parts which may be independent. The form and arrangement of the provision for interrupting the continuityr of enging'ement beI- tween Work and presserfoot might be changed in many ways and the gate shown and described herein merely a preferred form.

While it is prt-ifcrredv to employ all of the features of this invention conjointly as in the. case of the devices shown in the drawings,

For example,

various connections. The features of the invention both collectively and severally are capable of application to eycleting machines of different sorts and also to imichines for setting other fasteners than eyelets.

All modifications such as have been suggested above, and the use of any feature or features of this invention in theconnections just suggested, are to be construed as included within the proper scope of this invention as it is deiined in the subjoined claims. I

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is z- 1. ln an eyeleting machine, the combi-na tion with eyeletsetting devices, of means for feeding the work, worlecontrolling means extending transversely to the direction of feed forconstantly engaging the work, said means being' constructed and arranged whereby projections on the work may be brought close to said eyclet-setting,T devices and also to engage the work for substantially its entire width.

2. In an eyeleting' machine, the combina'- tion with eyelet-setting' devices, oi means for feeding the work, andwork-controlling means cxti-\.1i lin, transversely to the direction oi' feed for constantly engaging the Work, said latter means beingl constructed and arranged to engage the work for substantially its whole width and also to permit work hav-` ingprojections to be moved from one side of said means toward the other. i

3. ln au eyeletingr macl'iinc, the combination with eyelet setting dcviccs, of a guide plate, means for fecdinpr the work and a presser toot extending' transversely to the direction of iecdv provided with means for permitting' projections on the Work to be moved from one side thereof toward the other, the said presser' foot beingr constructed and arranged to exert pressure on the work` .for substantially its whole width.

4. ln an cycli-ting' machine, the. combination with work feedingA devices, of a guideplate, and aprcsscefoot extendingn transversely to the line of feed which constantly engages the. work,- said prcsserd'oot beingI ronstrurted and arranged to engage the. worh for substantially its whole width and also to permit work having j'irojections to be moved from one side of the -presserwfoot toward the other.

5. ln an cyeleting macl'iinc, the combination with cyeh\tsettinpf7 devices, of a guideplate, a presser-foot having a recess adjacent to said guide-plate, and a yielding gate extending across said recess.

(i. ln an cyeleting machine, the, combination with eyelid-setting devices, of a guideplate l'ongruiding the work on opposite sides thereof, and yielding presser-feet arranged to keep two marginal portions of the work respectively in contact with said guide-plate, each of the presser-feet having a recess adj acent to said guide-plate, and each being provided With a yielding gate extending across said recess.

7. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with work feeding devices, of work-controlling means. extending transversely to the line of feed for constantly engaging the work, said means being constructed and arranged for distributing pressure substantially uniformly throughout the entire width vthereof and for permitting the projections lon the work to be moved from one side thereof toward the other.

8. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with eyelet-setting devices, of a guideplate, a presser-foot provided with means for permitting projections on the work to be moved from one side thereof toward the other, said presser foot being provided with means for exerting pressure along substantially its whole width, anda spring support to which said tached.'

9. In an eyeleting machine, the combina presser-foot is pivotallyating arranged to form a substantially continuous surface when the relative movement brings them near each other.

10. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with eyelet-setting devices, of-an anvilplate, a guide-plate, and a Work-rest extend ing laterally from the said guide-plate and having a recess for receiving a portion of the anvil-plate.

11. In a machine for operating on boots and shoes, the combination of setting devices, of a movable anvil plate, a guide plate and a work rest extending from said guide plate a portion thereof constructed to overlap the anvil plate during a part of the motion of the latter.

12. In a machine for operating on boots and shoes, the combination with means for feeding the work, of a guide plate, a presser foot, and a hooked plate fast thereto and forming a pivot upon which said presser foot is mounted.

13. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with eyelet setting devices, of a guide plate, a presser foot, and a sprin lto which said presser foot is pivotally attaci ed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thisspecification 'in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ROBERT B. SMITH.

Witnesses: l

JOHN H. RUCKMAN, l FREDERICK L. EDMoNDs. 

